Inspiration and information about writing craft and author business. For independent creatives.
Writing Free, Writing the Future, and Business for Authors 2026
|
Hello Creatives, As we head into the final weeks of the year, are you racing to get creative projects done, or are you taking a step back and relaxing into the holiday season? I'm doing a bit of both, with essays to finish for my Masters, but also lots of social events and planning for 2026. I've also released The Buried and the Drowned in all formats, on all stores, so if you missed the Kickstarter, you can read my (very persona) short story collection now, or listen to (human) me narrate it. Click reply and let me know what your plans are. Will you finish that book before the year turns once more? Business for Authors, Jan 2026 WebinarOne of the things that has been concerning me lately is how many options there are for indie authors now, and how little education there is around the broader business framework that helps you decide what choices to make, and when. After 25 years of running my own businesses, and a decade as a multi-six-figure author entrepreneur, I've made lots of mistakes, and I also know a few things about business, so in January, I'm doing a webinar on Business for Authors. It's the same webinar, run on 2 separate dates, and ticket-holders get access to the video and audio replay as well as the slides and any other resources. More details on the links below. Just let me know if you have any questions. Sat 10 Jan, 11am US Eastern, 8am Pacific, 4pm UK Sat 24 Jan, 11am US Eastern, 8am Pacific, 4pm UK [There is a 25% discount for Patrons so please check Patreon.com/thecreativepenn for special links.] Writing Free, and a Long-Term Writing Career with Jennifer ProbstWhy do some romance authors build decades-long careers while others vanish after one breakout book? What really separates a throwaway pen name and rapid release strategy from a legacy brand and a body of work you’re proud of? How can you diversify with trad, indie, non-fiction, and Kickstarter without burning out—or selling out your creative freedom? With Jennifer Probst. In the intro, digital ebook signing, how to check terms and conditions, the music industry and AI music, and the golden age of weird. Click here to listen or read Writing the Future and Being More Human in an Age of AI with Jamie MetzlHow can you write science-based fiction without info-dumping your research? How can you use AI tools in a creative way, while still focusing on a human-first approach? Why is adapting to the fast pace of change so difficult and how can we make the most of this time? Jamie Metzl talks about Superconvergence and more. In the intro, How to avoid author scams, Spotify vs Audible audiobook strategy, and why constraints are important in your author life. Click here to listen or read
|
Joanna Penn, The Creative Penn
Inspiration and information about writing craft and author business. For independent creatives.
Hello Creatives, I was in Oxford last weekend for a university reunion. It was both strange and wonderful to sit across from people I last knew in my twenties and hear what their lives have become. Some have taken paths you might have predicted. Others have gone places no one would have guessed. A creative life rarely runs in a straight line, and I find I’m most drawn to the unexpected stories, the people who started over, who found their work later, who are still figuring it out. Decades in,...
Hello Creatives, One of the most common questions that authors are asked is: "Where do you get your ideas?" Well, for me, it's often about where I travel and what I find there. In 1999, I sailed on a tall ship from Fiji to Vanuatu in the south pacific, and something about that crossing never let me go. I just couldn’t find the right story for it ... until now. Bones of the Deep has finally arrived, with a setting that takes you out on the open ocean, the stolen bones of a merfolk culture, and...
Hello Creatives, Spring flowers are blooming here in Bath and I am looking forward to a lot more time outside in the coming months! I hope you are enjoying the seasons wherever you are in the world. In the meantime, I am almost ready to launch my next Kickstarter for Bones of the Deep, and I'm working hard on finishing my Masters course. We also had a book research trip to Paris which will eventually turn into my next ARKANE thriller, Crown of Thorns. More photos on Facebook/ Instagram...